Feb 26, 2019, Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator: Ford government says it did not order autism wait-list ‘freeze’—Despite documents that surfaced saying new families could not access autism services, ministry said “at no point” was freeze ordered. https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9193589-ford-government-says-it-did-not-order-autism-wait-list-freeze-/ The Ford government says it did not freeze a wait list for children's autism services, although a statement Monday from the social services ministry stated only those who'd received prior help were eligible for more. And, facing more pressure over their controversial overhaul of the autism program, questions were raised about PC claims of spending more than the previous Liberal government — given the Liberals had budgeted $321 million for 2018-19, the same amount pledged under the reforms…. Memos, however, have surfaced that indicate the ministry and autism service providers closed the wait lists, leaving behavioural therapists to run parent workshops and perform other duties instead of treating children. The PC plan, which starts April 1, aims to clear the 23,000-child wait list by spreading resources among all families — but it means some now receiving higher levels of service will see cutbacks. The changes mean families will be eligible for up to $20,000 a year for each child under 6, to a lifetime maximum of $140,000, to be used for the services of their choice. Children older than that can access up to $5,000 a year up to age 18, to a lifetime maximum of $55,000. During Monday's question period, Premier Doug Ford said when MacLeod took over the ministry she "ran right over to the treasury and asked for $100 million extra to make sure that the 23,000 families that were on the wait list under the previous (Liberal) administration" would get some services. "We will make sure we take care of the 23,000 families," the premier also said. "They will be off the wait list in 18 months." MacLeod has repeatedly said in the house that the government is spending $321 million, "much more than the $256 million the previous Liberal administration had offered," something the premier has also said. But Liberal Leader John Fraser said, when in government his party spent $317 million in 2017-18 and had allotted $321 million for the 2018-19 budget. When asked about the autism spending, a spokesperson for MacLeod said the minister "has said repeatedly (that) the previous Liberal government's 2018/19 budget was a political budget that they had no intention of fulfilling. The Ontario Autism Program is a clear example of their financial mismanagement." … Moffatt estimates the program would have to serve 40,000 kids — and impose very gentle income-testing — to spend $321 million a year, as the government has said. Even then, almost half of the children would have to be under age 6 and therefore eligible for $20,000 a year, he added. …
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Loss of Brain Trust features over 9,000 news stories published worldwide since January, 2017
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
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What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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